The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s LumenoCity – two free, open-air events combining a visual light show with live orchestral playing – has surprised even its organisers by attracting crowds of 35,000 over the weekend - 15,000 more than anticipated. The events, held in Washington Park opposite the orchestra’s Music Hall on August 3 and 4, were designed to welcome Louis Langrée as the next CSO music director.

Langrée led the orchestra in a programme including Strauss’s 'Fanfare' from Also sprach Zarathustra, the fourth movement from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 4, Copland’s 'Variations on a Shaker Melody' from Appalachian Spring, the fourth movement from Beethoven’s Symphony No 5, and Ravel’s Boléro. The evening also included performances form the Cincinnati Pops, members of the May Festival Chorus, dancers from Cincinnati Ballet and singers from Cincinnati Opera.

Brand consulting firm Landor Associates created the visual elements, which consisted of 40 minutes of digital light projections onto the exterior of Music Hall, timed and choreographed to the live orchestral performances. The events involved six months of planning and an estimated cost of $500,000.

The performances will be streamed online through YouTube from September 17.

Watch a trailer for LumenoCity below: